Some of you may have spoken with our Helpline Volunteers about finding care for a sick, injured, or orphaned animal. And we all recognize the role of the licensed rehabilitators and veterinary partners who provide that care. But there are some Wildlife Rescue League volunteers that you might not know about, even though they are essential to our mission. They are the Transporters who offer their time and their vehicle, often spending hours on the road, to transport an animal between rehabbers and veterinarians in secure covered boxes. Transporters rarely get to see the animal. But sometimes there is an opportunity to experience a little bit of an animal’s personality.
That was true for Transporter Roseann who picked up a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker from one of our veterinary partners. The bird had probably hit a window and been unable to fly when it was found. With no fractures or other obvious injuries, it was on its way to rehabilitator Nora for the time needed to recover from a possible concussion or at least a very bad headache. On the way to Nora’s the little bird was very lively in the box, continuously pecking at it – just what one might expect from a woodpecker! Roseann said it made her smile. Even better, Nora took the time to let Roseann see the bird and get a few photos. Just look at that beautiful yellow belly that gives the bird its name! And look at those feet. Unlike most songbirds that have three toes facing forward and one back, woodpeckers are zygodactyl. That means they have two toes forward and two toes back, an adaptation for clinging to the trunk of a tree.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers are not like most other woodpeckers. In addition to the insects that most woodpeckers eat, Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers drill rows of holes in neat straight lines on the trunk and limbs of a tree to feed on sap. That makes feeding them a bit challenging for a rehabilitator. Fortunately, this one recovered quickly and was released.
Most healthy trees tolerate the large number of holes made by a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker. These birds are a native species that evolved with our native trees. So, it is best to let them do what they do naturally. And the holes might be beneficial for another beloved species. Sap wells created by sapsuckers provide an early food source for migrating hummingbirds! According to the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance, in parts of Canada, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are so reliant on sap that they time their spring migration to match that of the sapsuckers.
Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers breed across Canada from Alaska to Newfoundland and in the most northern parts of the US. Winter migration brings them south to Virginia, with some going as far as Central America. So, now that the leaves are off the trees, look for them and their rows of neatly spaced holes. They are a delightful winter treat for bird lovers!
Written by Liz Dennison
Liz Dennison has been working with birds of prey for more than 15 years as an educator, rehabilitator, and falconer. In 2016, Liz founded Secret Garden Birds and Bees to share her love of these amazing birds of prey and spread the word about the essential role they play in a healthy ecosystem. In 2025, Liz became a WRL Helpline volunteer and a writer for the Nutley News.
